Litigation Section
Welcome to the Litigation Section's web page.
The Litigation Section seeks to improve and further the standards of trial practice and the art of advocacy in civil litigation through the review, consideration of, and comment on proposed legislation and court rule changes; the presentation of topical and informative programs; and the development and distribution of educational materials.
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Welcome Message from Litigation Section Chair Eric Y. Kizirian
Welcome to the Litigation Section’s website!
I am honored to serve as the 2021-2022 Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Litigation Section. The Litigation Section is comprised of a diverse group of judges and plaintiff, defense, and government attorneys. This unique partnership fosters an environment where we can have meaningful and timely conversations about challenges facing practitioners and the courts, and how we as members of the bar can assist the courts.
Our Section has had a long tradition of promoting civility in the legal profession, expanding diversity and Inclusion, working to secure adequate court funding, protecting the independence of the judiciary, and providing member education through programming. The diverse and incredibly capable group of judges and attorneys who will serve on our Litigation Section’s Executive Committee this year will again be guided by these long-standing principles as we work to tackle the daily challenges that affect both the courts and practitioners alike during this pandemic.
Our Section’s leaders are here to serve you. Please check this website often for LACBA Litigation Section news, updates, and programming information. If I can ever be of service, please reach out to me anytime, eric.kizirian@lewisbrisbois.com.
With kind regards
Eric Y. Kizirian
Chair, Litigation Section
Upcoming Event:
Remote Appearances: California's New Law and Best Practices
January 31, 2022, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
This month ushers in a new law on remote appearances, evidentiary hearings, and trials. Newly promulgated Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 and California Rule of Court, rule 3.672 set out in detail the procedures for requesting, opposing, and conducting remote proceedings. This brown bag lunch will focus on the new statute and rule, the deadlines and forms required to request or oppose remote testimony or trial, and practical tips for effective remote arguments, testimony, and trials.
Speakers:
Hon. Laura A. Seigle | Los Angeles County Superior Court
Hon. Elaine Lu | Los Angeles County Superior Court
Hon. Joel Lofton| Los Angeles County Superior Court
Hon. Kristen Escalante| Los Angeles County Superior Court
Prices:
This program is complimentary to all LACBA Members, practicing and in-house attorneys, and judicial officers.
Video:
Superior Court Fast Track Personal Injury Bench Trial Program
Recorded June 21, 2021
Statements from the Litigation Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
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Litigation Executive Committee Meetings for 2021
January 13, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
February 10, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
March 10, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
April 14, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
May 12, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
June 9, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
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Recent Events:
Bias Driven Incivility
December 7, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Please join us for this important discussion about bias driven incivility, what it is and its impact on individual attorneys, workplace productivity and the profession’s ongoing efforts to achieve meaningful diversity and inclusion.
This program will address diversity and bias issues in the legal profession through the lens of civility in the practice. Diverse attorneys continue to face “bias driven incivility,” a distinct form of incivility resulting from expressions of explicit and implicit biases. This program will define and provide examples of bias driven incivility and discuss the impact of this kind of incivility on individual attorneys, the workplace, and the legal profession.
In September 2021, the California Civility Task Force issued an initial report addressing the state of civility in the legal profession, including the impacts of bias driven incivility on attorneys and workplaces. Bias driven incivility is a distinct form of incivility resulting from expressions of explicit and implicit biases, including biases based on race, gender and sexual orientation. Examining bias driven incivility within the broader discourse about civility in the legal profession centers the experiences of diverse attorneys, encourages discussions about these experiences and helps us understand how negative interactions between individual attorneys have an adverse impact on the overall environment of legal practice.
Brown Bag Lunch: eFiling in Complex Courts & Settlement of Class Actions and Multi-Plaintiff Cases
October 14, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a Brown Bag lunch where complex court judges will discuss eFiling in the Complex Courts, settlement of class actions and multi-plaintiff cases, and a class action checklist review.
Los Angeles Superior Court Fast Track Personal Injury Bench
June 21, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The Los Angeles Superior Court recently announced a fast track bench trial program for Personal Injury Hub cases. This Town Hall webinar - sponsored jointly by this myriad of bar groups - will cover the many benefits to taking advantage of the program, such as having a prompt trial date that will actually go on the date set for trial, allowing parties, counsel and witnesses to efficiently and fully prepare for a certain trial date; all while helping the Court with the pandemic backlog of personal injury cases, which will allow for faster jury trials once they resume.
Bench (Virtually) Meets the Bar
June 10, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Hear from the Chief and Presiding Judges from the Ninth Circuit, California Court of Appeal (Second District), Central District of California, and Los Angeles Superior Court on what is happening with the courts now and the plan as we move forward from the pandemic. The Jim Robie Professionalism and Clerks of the Year Awards will also be presented.
Pathways to the Bench: Tips and Strategies for Applying to the Bench
May 4, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a lively discussion with judicial officers from the Los Angeles Superior Court and the California Court of Appeal sharing their personal paths to the bench, practical advice regarding the judicial nomination process and the importance of diversity on the bench.
Litigation Section Brown Bag Lunch: Protecting the Record
April 26, 2021, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Please join a panel of California Court of Appeal justices for an informal discussion on how trial attorneys can protect their record for possible appeal. Topics will include tips and techniques to complete the record, common pitfalls, ensuring that the record contains what is needed for compelling appellate argument, and other appellate best practices. This program is suitable for all levels of experience, from junior lawyers to seasoned practitioners.
Conducting Virtual Bench Trials
January 15, 2021, 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Practicing law virtually has become the new normal. In the current environment, the best way to get to trial may be a virtual bench trial. Hear directly from Los Angeles Superior Court Supervising Judge of Civil Hon. David J. Cowan, and plaintiff and defense attorneys, who have all conducted virtual bench trials. Practice pointers, technical requirements, and strategy considerations for virtual trials will all be discussed. This program is a must attend for successfully practicing during the pandemic.
Speakers
Hon. David J. Cowan, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge
Lucia Coyoca, Mitchell Silberberg, Bio
Timothy Reynolds, Paul Hastings, Bio
Elise Sanguinetti, Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Torrijos, Bio
John Blumberg, Blumberg Law, Bio
Douglas N. Silverstein, Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob & Morrison (moderator), Article
Civility in the Courtroom and in the Practice of Law
January 25, 2021, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
An informative and entertaining panel discussion about our obligation to promote civility in our everyday practice and in the courtroom.
J. Bernard Alexander, III Receives The Jim Robie Professionalism and Civility Award
LACBA congratulates J. Bernard Alexander, III, a partner at Alexander Krakow + Glick LLP, who was selected as the recipient of the 2020 Jim Robie Professionalism and Civility Award.
The Award is given annually by LACBA’s Litigation Section to a Los Angeles trial lawyer whose career demonstrates the same qualities of professionalism, civility, service, enthusiasm, and collegiality as the Section’s former chair, Jim Robie. Not only was Mr. Robie an accomplished trial lawyer, he was a consummate professional who embraced civility and service to the bar and the civil justice system.
Mr. Alexander, who specializes in plaintiff employment litigation, said “It is an unexpected honor and a privilege to join the short list of well-respected attorneys who have received the Jim Robie award in the past."
Congratulations, Bernard!
View more photos from the 2019 Federal Courts Symposium on Facebook here
Photos from the Kickoff Reception for the LACBA Litigation Section Executive Committee are on Facebook here
The LACBA Litigation Section is on Facebook!
Click here to “Like” and “Follow” the Litigation Section’s Facebook page. You will receive announcements of Litigation Section-sponsored events such as Brown Bag lunch programs, Inn of Court meetings, the annual Bench Meets Bar event, and many other programs.